Judge Slams Politicians for giving Character References to Drug Dealers, then one wonders how many in the Dail enjoy the odd Snort of Odlums Flower themselves? Not forgetting the Weed and the Green Party?

Thu, 29 Oct, 2020 – 18:45 Liam Heylin

A sentencing judge said that politicians supplying character testimonials for people on drugs charges should have more sense.

24-year-old Shane Rowley of Market Gardens, Togher Road, Cork, pleaded guilty to having cocaine for sale or supply to others.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin imposed a suspended 18-month sentence.

However, the judge commented: “People who supply those testimonials – some of them serving politicians – they really should have more sense.” 

The testimonials in this case were handed in to the sentencing judge and not read publicly. The names of the politicians or others giving the character evidence were not disclosed.

Garda Ryan Dillon testified that he was on routine patrol at Hartland’s Avenue in Cork when he observed a Seat Ibiza car that Shane Rowley was driving.

Suspicious that there may have been drugs in the car, Garda Dillon conducted a search and found a weighing scales and a plastic bag containing cocaine wrapped in a number of one-gram bags.

In total, the gardaí recovered almost 23 grams of cocaine and the same quantity of a mixing agent.